4 ms·

Ask HN: hybrid app framework for an app that runs on iOS and Mac

5 points by kartickv 9y ago

I'm looking to build an app that will work on both iOS and Mac. Android and Windows support isn't needed. What hybrid app frameworks exist for this purpose? Most of the ones I've heard of are moblie + mobile (iOS + Android) or desktop + desktop (Mac + Windows), not mobile + desktop. I prefer to code in Swift, since I need access to a few platform APIs, and since I'm very comfortable with it, and with iOS APIs as well, more than HTML/CSS/JS. It's a simple utility app, with a few screens, not performance-sensitive. Thanks.

GameOfTrolls 9y ago
look into React Native http://softwareengineeringdaily.com/2017/04/11/the-future-of-react-native-with-brent-vatne-and-adam-perry/
isubkhankulov 9y ago
afaik you can use swift for both mac and iOS however they're different platforms so there won't be 100% overlap. have you considered building a web app? you can run it in the browser on both desktop and mobile. you can also use a cordova based framework to wrap it in an app for the app store.
- chris__butters 9y ago
  I agree, phonegap might be the best best for cross platform hybrid apps but doesn't officially cover desktop, although it shouldn't be too difficult to port it to use electron instead https://electron.atom.io https://electron.atom.io
  - kartickv 9y ago
    Electron is desktop-only, isn't it? I need to support iOS and Mac. Thanks.
- kartickv 9y ago
  Thanks, but I need access to some system APIs. Now, I can always bridge them to the web, with two implementations, one for iOS and one for macOS, but that seems like doing the framework's work myself. If I do that, I might as well do the whole thing in Swift. Is there anything I'm missing?
gspyrou 9y ago
Check out Xamarin https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/mac/getting_started/hello,_mac/ https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/mac/getting_started/hel... .
bigmanwalter 9y ago
I know you said no HTML, bit IMO it's the only way to do cross platform well. I'm a big fan of Ionic, especially now that they released their Drag and Drop UI editor at https://creator.ionic.io/ https://creator.ionic.io/.
- kartickv 9y ago
  Thanks. Please see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14526419 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14526419 for the problem with the web. Maybe I'll just end up writing two separate apps in Swift.
  - bigmanwalter 9y ago
    In the case of Ionic it uses Cordova to give access to native APIs. Even better, it provides a JS wrapper so that there is a common interface for both systems and you only need to write your code once!
1123581321 9y ago
Look at UIKit clones for Mac. There was one called Blueprint a few years ago. I'm not sure of the state of the art now. A Mac app starter kit (icon management, menu, upgrading, etc.) With the iOS app ported in with a UIKit clone should get you what you want with much better performance than a web/JS-based solutio ln that will compromise your iOS app.

5 points by kartickv 9y ago

GameOfTrolls 9y ago

look into React Native http://softwareengineeringdaily.com/2017/04/11/the-future-of-react-native-with-brent-vatne-and-adam-perry/

isubkhankulov 9y ago

afaik you can use swift for both mac and iOS however they're different platforms so there won't be 100% overlap. have you considered building a web app? you can run it in the browser on both desktop and mobile. you can also use a cordova based framework to wrap it in an app for the app store.

chris__butters 9y ago
I agree, phonegap might be the best best for cross platform hybrid apps but doesn't officially cover desktop, although it shouldn't be too difficult to port it to use electron instead https://electron.atom.io https://electron.atom.io
- kartickv 9y ago
  Electron is desktop-only, isn't it? I need to support iOS and Mac. Thanks.
kartickv 9y ago
Thanks, but I need access to some system APIs. Now, I can always bridge them to the web, with two implementations, one for iOS and one for macOS, but that seems like doing the framework's work myself. If I do that, I might as well do the whole thing in Swift. Is there anything I'm missing?

gspyrou 9y ago

Check out Xamarin https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/mac/getting_started/hello,_mac/ https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/mac/getting_started/hel... .

bigmanwalter 9y ago

I know you said no HTML, bit IMO it's the only way to do cross platform well. I'm a big fan of Ionic, especially now that they released their Drag and Drop UI editor at https://creator.ionic.io/ https://creator.ionic.io/.

kartickv 9y ago
Thanks. Please see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14526419 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14526419 for the problem with the web. Maybe I'll just end up writing two separate apps in Swift.
- bigmanwalter 9y ago
  In the case of Ionic it uses Cordova to give access to native APIs. Even better, it provides a JS wrapper so that there is a common interface for both systems and you only need to write your code once!

1123581321 9y ago

Look at UIKit clones for Mac. There was one called Blueprint a few years ago. I'm not sure of the state of the art now. A Mac app starter kit (icon management, menu, upgrading, etc.) With the iOS app ported in with a UIKit clone should get you what you want with much better performance than a web/JS-based solutio ln that will compromise your iOS app.